Trump says ‘many’ border crossers use children for ‘their own sinister purposes’

President Trump accused migrant parents who cross the U.S.-Mexico border with their sons and daughters of using these children to further “their own sinister purposes.”

On Sunday morning, Trump turned to Twitter to defend his administration’s much-maligned policy of separating children from their parents at the border. He said there should be consequences whenever someone enters the United States without going through the proper channels — regardless of whether he or she has a child.

President Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One and departing the White House. (Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images)

Trump then claimed the United States has the “dumbest” and “worst” immigration laws in the world. He encouraged the American people to vote for Republican candidates in the upcoming midterms so that Congress can amend these laws.

Please understand, there are consequences when people cross our Border illegally, whether they have children or not – and many are just using children for their own sinister purposes. Congress must act on fixing the DUMBEST & WORST immigration laws anywhere in the world! Vote “R”

He also threatened to shut down the government unless Congress passes border-security legislation that includes building a wall separating the U.S.-Mexico border.

I would be willing to “shut down” government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall! Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!

An hour earlier, Trump shared a quote from Thomas Homan, the former director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which was responsible for carrying out the administration’s policies. On Fox News’ “Watters’ World,” Homan said, “There’s been nobody that has done more for border security and public safety than President Trump. And I’ve worked for six presidents — I respect them all — but nobody has done more than this administration and President Trump. That’s just a stone-cold fact.”

Trump’s rhetoric and policy proposals surrounding immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border have been controversial ever since he announced his presidential campaign in June 2015.

Last year, he warned he would end former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which gave temporary legal status to the children of undocumented immigrants.

But the administration’s policy of referring all instances of illegal entry for criminal prosecution, which was announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in April, has resulted in thousands of families being separated at the border.

The separations resulted in waves of compassion for the immigrants and condemnation for Trump — even from his steadfast supporters. The Trump administration repeatedly attempted to shift the blame to the Democrats for its own policy and falsely claimed it had no choice but to separate the families.

On June 20, Trump signed an executive order halting his administration’s policy, but there are still many questions about how the remaining hundreds of children will be reunited with their parents.